Sutton Place Hotel
Chicago, IL
May 1 - 3, 2008

Now in its twentieth year, this annual event continues to provide SMA members with invaluable networking opportunities. And, for the first time in the event history, the SMA will offer an educational conference in addition to the events that have always been provided. The education program will feature two unique tracks of courses, specific to the stair industry, taught by industry-respected experts. You’d be missing out if you didn’t take this opportunity to learn about the latest industry trends and services. So come on out and experience the educational and networking benefits that only the SMA annual conference can offer!

HIGHLIGHTS

• Educational Offering
  • Surviving in Tomorrow’s Stair Industry – Do You Have What It Will Take Today?
  • Lean Manufacturing Management
  • Introduction to the Philosophy of Continuous Improvement
  • The Value Stream – Does Yours Provide a Continuous Flow to your Customer?
  • Inventory – Sleeping Money?
  • Capitalizing on Organizational Intelligence
  • Wreath Handrailing I & II
  • Curved Stair Design Basics
  • Hardwood Lumber Grading & Quality Control
  • Promoting & Using the New SMA Quality Standards
  • Future Careers in the Stair Industry – Developing an Infrastructure in Your Community
• Plant Tour & Sightseeing
  • Oakley Steel Plant Tour
    
• First Annual SMA Stair Craft Awards
• Networking Opportunities
• Golf Tournament
• Great Staircases of Chicago: A Walking Tour

Keynote Speaker: Patricia Wardwell
Wardwell has more than 20 years of experience in manufacturing. Prior
to her association with the Greater Boston Manufacturing Partnership, she
was vice president of operations at United Electric Controls, a 1990 winner
of the Shingo Prize for Manufacturing Excellence.

Wardwell has beeninvolved with continuous improvement efforts on the shop floor and in
support areas since 1987 and has been a speaker at many regional and national conferences on related topics.In the mid 1990s, when United Electric stepped up its emphasis on the use of the Toyota Production System, Wardwell coordinated much of the related education program. In 1997, Wardwell became the manager for the companies first Office of Continuous Process Improvement. In this role, she led operators to make improvements. She also has led and participated in numerous cross-functional improvement teams in areas ranging from shipping to assembly to machining. She was also project leader for a team that selected and successfully implemented a new, company-wide business information system, which had to support a company in transition from batch to lean manufacturing. In addition, Wardwell was co-leader of a successful ISO9001 implementation team and is an experienced ISO lead auditor.

Wardwell holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine, an MBA from Bentley
College and is APICS certified in integrated resource management.

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